iPhone 17 Pro using camera when switching apps

I found out what was causing it!! At least for me. Turns out that I had my camera app in a spot that I frequently touch to swipe to my next Home Screen. I found out that if you even touch the camera app and do not open it, Apple still turns the camera on in anticipation to reduce the amount of time it takes before you’re ready to take a picture. Thought it was a bug but it’s actually a feature to try to prevent you from missing a photo.

If the Camera switch is set to open a camera app and/or if you have back tap set to open Camera app it’ll do the same. So, appears to be a feature and not a bug. Solution is to turn off the features I mentioned above.

What I’ve found is that after a hard restart the issue stops. Once I open the camera app for the first time, it begins again. Even if I close the Camera app, the camera will continue to activate every time I switch pages on the Home Screen.

Blekkekjell wrote:

This keeps happening to my iPhone 16 pro as well. Very distrusting. No noticeable apps, seems very random. Please investigate

This is a user-to-user forum, not Apple Support. You should contact Apple Support using the link at the bottom left of every page of the forums.

Are you perhaps accidentally presing the Camera Control button? I find myself doing that a lot.

Interesting, no one else is reporting this. Is your device updated to iOS 26.X.X ? Have you done any troubleshooting? A forced restart is generally the first step, followed by reset all settings and then an erase and reinstall.

If that isn’t the path you want to go, Apple Support may hay some insights. If you’re in the US please call  1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada call 1-800-263-3394

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

In the lock screen you can swipe left to open the camera app, and apparently it is activated even if you are not using it.

I found the green dot stopped appearing after disabling “Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera” from Settings -> Camera menu.

This is happening to me, as well. I've noticed that it happens when I'm switching from page 1 to page 2 of my home screen. The green dot doesn't show up when going back to Page 1 from Page 2, but if I go back to Page 2 again it will show up.

If I hard-restart my phone it will stop doing it for a while, but then it starts again after a while.

I'm on 26.1

You mention switching apps. Specifically, which apps?

Is there a way to report this as a bug? I can provide screen recordings to show the issue.

I did a full reset and setup as a new iPhone (not from a backup) this morning and the camera still activates during page changes.

I’m having the exact same issue. Happens with any app or screen change

any assistance available to stop this?

-Naren

This keeps happening to me as well

This keeps happening to my iPhone 16 pro as well. Very distrusting. No noticeable apps, seems very random. Please investigate